The Active Amputee
I am Bjoern Eser, the founder of and the shaker and maker behind The Active Amputee. I am a father of three amazing children, a husband to an equally amazing wife, a thankful cancer survivor, an outdoor enthusiast, a passionate development practitioner and a very active above-the-knee amputee.
I have set up The Active Amputee as a resource page from amputees for amputees. It aims to inform, it aims to inspire, and it aims to engage. Nothing more and nothing less. It‘s as simple as that.
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What Else Is New?
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮May 13, 2026 ⎮ Inform & encourage to be active ⎮ in English
OTWorld Special: Two years with the Genium X4 (Sneak Preview)
At OTWorld 2024, the Genium X4 from Ottobock entered the spotlight. And while I had my own first test months earlier during a campaign shoot in the Austrian Alps, I’ve used the X4 every day since its offical launch on May 14th, 2024. And after two years, my main takeaway is simple: the most important output of good prosthetic tech is not hype. It’s confidence and energy saved over real and often long days. I wrote a one-page anniversary reflection with practical value for amputees, therapists, O&P professionals, and companies: what’s genuinely helpful, what I’ve learned, and where the boundaries still are. And you can read it tomorrow here on my blog. read more
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮May 8, 2026 ⎮ Inform & encourage to be active ⎮ in English
OTWorld Special: Who am I excited to meet at the OTWOrld
If you’ve ever walked the halls of OTWorld, you know the feeling: the big household names pull you in with huge booths, polished demos, and launches timed perfectly for the show. And honestly : I love seeing what the major players bring to the table each year. But this time around, I’m especially looking forward to something else: discovering (and re-discovering) the less well-known companies and the people behind them. The ones who are building bold ideas, taking smart risks, and often pushing user-driven design in ways that the “industry giants” can’t (or won’t). Here are a few of the companies I’m most excited to seek out at OTWorld in Leipzig this year - and why. read more
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮May 5, 2026 ⎮ Inform & encourage to be active ⎮ in English
OTWorld Special: There is more to Leipzig than the OTWOrld
You are coming to OTWorld for the ideas, the tech, and the conversations, but do not let the trip be “hotel–messe–airport” only. Leipzig is genuinely stunning, easy to navigate, and surprisingly efficient for time-strapped visitors. Even if you only have one free morning or a couple of evenings, you can get a real sense of the city without complicated logistics, long transfers, or a big planning effort. So here is the deal: You free up a few hours in your schedule and I provide you with a range of ideas of how to turn these hours into amazing memories. read more
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮May 1, 2026 ⎮ Inform & encourage to be active ⎮ in English
OTWorld Special: Save the date
Welcome to a new special series here on The Active Amputee. A two-week run-up to OTWorld 2026 in Leipzig, a front-row account from the fair itself sharing what I see, hear, test, question, and learn along the way, followed by some reflections once I am back home and find some time to sort through countless impressions and sort out my take-aways. So let's kick-off thie new series with some initial reflections, my expectations, and three reasons for anyone to visit this year's OTWorld - the 50th anniversary edition of the word's biggest O&P trade show. read more
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮April 30, 2026 ⎮ Inform, inspire & encourage to be active ⎮ in English
My take-aways from Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month
Today is the last day of Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month (LLLDAM) and I’ve been sitting here wondering what I want to carry forward from it. After hours of contemplation here are three reflections that have stayed with me over the years — especially as someone who cares deeply about both the personal experience and the bigger systems around limb difference. So so closing thoughts of mine are my gift to you to officially close this year's Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month. read more
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮April 22, 2026 ⎮ Inform, inspire & encourage to be active ⎮ in English
Musings by an above-knee amputee
This Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, maybe we can retire the idea that mindset is the sole hero of the story. Let’s replace it with something more honest and ultimately more powerful: A recognition that living well with limb loss or limb difference is a shared effort. It takes individuals showing up for themselves. It takes professionals listening and adapting. It takes companies innovating responsibly. And it takes society doing the work - real, tangible, sometimes expensive work - to make inclusion more than just a nice idea. Because in the end, mindset might help you climb the mountain. But access determines whether you can even reach the trailhead. read on
Guest post by Sydney Marshburn ⎮March 18, 2026 ⎮ Inform, inspire & encourage to be active ⎮ in English
The art of starting over (again)
If you live with limb loss or limb difference and try to stay active, you probably know this feeling. The feeling when things start clicking and you feel like you have your rhythm back, then something comes along and knocks you sideways. Maybe it is a skin issue, a socket problem, nerve pain, a fall, or a surgery you did not see coming. Suddenly the routines that made you feel strong and capable disappear, and you are back in recovery mode once again. read on
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮March 12, 2026 ⎮ Inform and inspire ⎮ in English
Athletes to watch in Italy: US Para Ice Hockey Team
As the Paralympic Winter Games unfold in Italy, few teams capture the intensity and excitement of adaptive sport quite like the United States men's national para ice hockey team. One of the most successful programs in the history of the Winter Paralympics, the U.S. team has become a defining force in the fast-growing sport of para ice hockey. A sport known for its speed, physicality, and fiercely competitive international rivalries. read on
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮March 10, 2026 ⎮ Inform and inspire ⎮ in English
Athletes to watch in Italy: Oksana Masters
As the Paralympic Winter Games unfold in Italy, few athletes embody the spirit of adaptive sport quite like Oksana Masters. One of the most decorated Paralympians of her generation, Masters has built an extraordinary career across both Summer and Winter Paralympic sports, becoming a defining figure in Nordic skiing and a powerful voice for disability representation. read on
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮March 8, 2026 ⎮ Inform and inspire ⎮ in English
Athletes to watch in Italy: Anna-Lena Forster
As the Paralympic Winter Games continue in Italy, Anna-Lena Forster has already made her mark on the competition. On day two of the Games, the German sit-skier delivered a standout performance to win gold in the women’s sitting giant slalom, securing Germany’s first gold medal of these Paralympics. read on
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮March 6, 2026 ⎮ Inform and inspire ⎮ in English
Athletes to watch in Italy: Brenna Huckaby
As the Paralympic Winter Games arrive in Italy this very evening, few athletes embody the spirit of adaptive sport quite like Brenna Huckaby. A three-time Paralympic gold medalist and one of the most decorated athletes in para snowboarding, Huckaby has become a defining figure in the sport, known not only for her results on the snow, but also for her advocacy for inclusion and visibility in disability sport. read on
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮February 11, 2026 ⎮ Inform and inspire ⎮ in English
Why the Paralympic Winter Games matter far beyond sport
In March 2026, the world of Paralympic sport will once again gather on snow and ice. From 6 to 15 March 2026, the Paralympic Winter Games will take place in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. For ten days, hundreds of athletes with disabilities will compete in alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, snowboard, ice hockey, and wheelchair curling — sports that demand not only strength and endurance, but precision, trust in equipment, and the ability to perform in environments that were never designed with disabled bodies in mind. read on
Gastbeitrag von NOAK ⎮ 04. Februar 2026 ⎮ Informieren, inspirieren und zum Mitmachen ermuntern ⎮ auf Deutsch
Wenn Bewegung Mut macht: Netzwerk ActiveOncoKids stellt sich vor
Wenn Kinder oder Jugendliche an Krebs erkranken, verändert sich nicht nur ihr Alltag – oft gerät auch etwas aus dem Blick, das für ihre Entwicklung ganz natürlich und lebenswichtig ist: Bewegung und Sport. Genau hier setzt das Netzwerk ActiveOncoKids an, ein deutschlandweit aktives Projekt, das Kindern, Jugendlichen und jungen Erwachsenen mit und nach Krebs dabei hilft, wieder aktiv zu werden, ihre Lieblingssportarten (neu) zu entdecken und Bewegung als festen Teil ihres Lebens zu integrieren. weiterlesen
Gastbeitrag von Fritz Pölzl ⎮ 21. Januar 2026 ⎮ Informieren, inspirieren und zum Mitmachen ermuntern ⎮ auf Deutsch
Mein Weg zurück... und weiter
Am 27. Mai 2021 veränderte ein Unfall in einer Boulderhalle das Leben von Fritz grundlegend und führte Monate später zur Amputation seines linken Unterschenkels. Zwischen den Extremen von „alles ist möglich“ und „nichts geht mehr“ fand er seinen ganz eigenen Weg zurück in ein aktives Leben – mit Geduld, Rückschlägen, Unterstützung und der richtigen Prothese. In diesem Blog erzählt Fritz von diesem Weg, von Bewegung, Sport und den Bergen nach der Amputation, in der Hoffnung, anderen Mut zu machen und zu zeigen: Eine Amputation ist nicht das Ende der Geschichte, sondern der Beginn eines neuen Kapitels. weiterlesen
Post by Bjoern Eser ⎮January 14, 2026 ⎮ Inform and inspire ⎮ in English
No legs, no limits: Hari Budha Magar completes the Seven Summits
Every so often, a story comes along that reshapes what we believe is possible. In early January 2026, former British Army Gurkha soldier Hari Budha Magar, a double above-knee amputee, completed one of the most revered challenges in mountaineering - the Seven Summits - becoming the first person with above-knee bilateral amputations in history to stand atop the highest peak on each continent. Here is his story - and an interview I did with Hari just before he left. read on